Campbell Highway

For many people the first stop on the Campbell Highway is Simpson Lake. This lake, nowadays so popular with anglers, was named by Campbell after Sir George Simpson, the general manager of the Hudson's Bay Company.

After a further 30 km (19 mi.) or so from Simpson Lake the road reaches Miner's Junction, named after a jade mine; jade jewelry is on sale in a small shop.To the east of Miner's Junction Nahanni Range Road provides the link with the Northwest Territories.

At the 268 kilometer point, and at 167 m (550 ft) above sea-level, stands the trading post known as Fort Pelly Banks which was set up by Campbell in 1844, but has been unused for many years.

After 360 km (224 mi.) the highway arrives in Ross River on the south bank of the Pelly River. Ross River lies at the junction of Campbell Highway and Canol Road, the latter providing the link between Whitehorse via Ross River to the Selwyn and Mackenzie Mountains in the adjoining Northwest Territories. North of Watson Lake the town of Ross River is the nearest tourist center and place where anglers and hunters can obtain supplies and provisions. Most of the 400 inhabitants are Kaska Indians. Its convenient situation at the mouth of the river of the same name has meant that Pelly River has grown in importance as a point from which to explore for minerals and other natural resources in the central Yukon.Tours in the unspoilt mountains and flights - such as those offered by Flying Service Ross River- over the scenically charming valleys of Ross and Pelly River are much to be recommended.

Campbell Highway follows the Pelly River until, after covering a total of 415 km (258 mi.) from the start, a road branches off to Faro 6 km (4 mi.) to the north. This mining village grew up in 1968 with the mining of nearby stocks of lead and zinc. After the mines had to be shut down in 1982 because they proved unprofitable Faro threatened to become a ghost town, but early in 1986 a further area was discovered and mined with the aid of new methods of exploration. Between 1986 and 1990 production amounted to some 5 million tons per annum; the lead and zinc mines at Faro belonging to Curragh Resources Inc. are now the largest in Canada.